IHOP vs Wendy's (2026)
Side-by-side comparison of menu prices, calories, and value. 139 items at IHOP vs 77 items at Wendy's.
Quick answer: As of April 2026, IHOP averages $6.36 per item across 139 menu items, while Wendy's averages $3.52 across 77 items. Wendy's is $2.83 cheaper per item (45% difference). Wendy's has lower average calories (445 vs 584 per item).
Quick Comparison
| Metric | IHOP | Wendy's | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avg Price | $6.36 | $3.52 | Wendy's |
| Menu Items | 139 | 77 | IHOP |
| Avg Calories | 584 | 445 | Wendy's |
| US Locations | 1,750 | 6,154 | Wendy's |
| Secret Menu | 0 | 2 | Wendy's |
Wendy's is 45% cheaper on average than IHOP ($2.83 less per item).
Cheapest Items
IHOP
Wendy's
Lowest Calorie Options
Deep Comparison: IHOP vs Wendy's
Calorie Value (cents per calorie)
IHOP delivers 1.86¢/cal on average, while Wendy's delivers 2.09¢/cal. IHOP gives more calories per dollar — a key metric for value-per-meal seekers.
Menu Category Overlap
IHOP and Wendy's share 0 menu categories (0% Jaccard overlap). Low overlap — these chains serve mostly different food categories.
What Fits in Your Budget
- $10 budget: IHOP fits 1 item (971 cal), Wendy's fits 1 item (330 cal)
- $15 budget: IHOP fits 3 items (150 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (2580 cal)
- $20 budget: IHOP fits 3 items (1021 cal), Wendy's fits 3 items (690 cal)
Where They Rank in Our 414-Chain Dataset
IHOP ranks #166 of 414 on price (cheaper than 60% of tracked chains). Wendy's ranks #27 of 414 (cheaper than 94% of chains).
Calorie Distribution (items under 500 cal)
At IHOP, 45% of menu items with calorie data come in under 500 calories. At Wendy's, 73% are under 500 calories. Wendy's offers more lower-calorie options proportionally.
Bottom Line
- Budget pick: Wendy's ($3.52 avg vs $6.36)
- More variety: IHOP (139 items)
- More locations: Wendy's (6,154 US locations)
- Best calorie value: IHOP (1.86¢/cal)